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Tuesday, 3 January 2017

SWAZILAND LAST ON POLITICAL FREEDOM

Swaziland came a long way last in a survey of 36
African countries looking at political freedom.

Of those asked, ‘In this country how free are you to
join any political organisation you want?’ only 7 percent responded,
‘completely free.’

Swaziland, which is ruled by King Mswati III who is
sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, came last in the survey of 36
African countries. Egypt and Sudan came second bottom with scores of 27
percent.

In addition, only 18 percent of those surveyed said
they had complete freedom of speech and 56 percent said they had complete
freedom to vote.

Political parties are not allowed to take part in elections and most of
the political groupings in Swaziland that advocate for democracy have been
banned under the King’s Suppression of Terrorism Act.

The Swazi people are only allowed to select 55 of the 65 members of the
House of Assembly, the other 10 are appointed by the King. None of the 30
members of the Swaziland Senate are elected by the people: the King appoints 20
members and the other 10 are appointed by the House of Assembly.

Afrobarometer reported that 56 percent of those
surveyed agreed ’Government should have the right to ban any organisation that
goes against its policies.’

Afrobarometer reported that the survey on human rights
coincided with the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). With the International Covenant
on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), it formalizes the right to
peaceful assembly (Article 21) and freedom of association (Article 22), among
other fundamental human rights.

The report quoted the UN Special Rapporteur saying, ‘freedoms
of assembly and association “are a vehicle for the exercise of many other
civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights, allowing people to
express their political opinions, engage in artistic pursuits, engage in
religious observances, join trade unions, elect leaders, and hold them
accountable.” As such, they play “a decisive role” in building and
consolidating democracy.

‘All African countries except South Sudan are
signatories or state parties to the ICCPR, committing them to “take positive
measures to establish and maintain an enabling environment” for associations –
which can be anything from a prayer group to an online discussion group, a
demonstration, a labor union, a political party or – yes, as long as it’s peaceful
– a birthday party. No participant in an association should have to fear
harassment, a travel ban, or a smear campaign, much less violence or detention.’

Afrobarometer reported, ‘Freedom of association
clearly goes hand in hand with other freedoms and democracy: In places where
citizens feel free to associate, they also tend to feel free to speak and vote
their minds, and they perceive their countries as functioning democracies.’